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DVDs help educators understand
Native students
Native American students make up nearly 11
percent of the student population in South Dakota’s public
schools. Unfortunately, these students often lag behind their
peers when it comes to student performance.
“One of things we are trying to do at the state level is to help
educators better understand the Native American students they
serve,” said Keith Moore, director of Indian education at the
South Dakota Department of Education. “If educators have a basic
knowledge and understanding of Dakota, Lakota and Nakota
culture, they can create a school environment where students
feel comfortable, safe, accepted, and are better able to learn.”
Working with South Dakota Public Broadcasting, the department
has created a two-part DVD series that provides a historical and
cultural perspective of the Dakota, Lakota and Nakota people.
The department hopes that schools will use the DVDs as a basis
for staff training. Some educators may choose to use pieces of
the series in their classrooms as well.
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The first DVD, “Oceti Sakowin: The
People of the Seven Council Fires,” presents a broad
overview of the history and culture of South Dakota’s
Dakota, Lakota and Nakota people. It runs about one hour.
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The second DVD, “Native American
Education: Bridging the Gap,” is a 22-minute show that
focuses on specific issues related to the education of our
Native American students.
A DVD packet was mailed to each
superintendent and school principal in late July. That resource,
coupled with online resources (located at
www.sdpb.org/learning/index.asp), could be used as a
springboard for discussion at in-service trainings, workshops
and meetings.
For more information, contact Keith Moore at (605) 773-6118 or
keith.moore@state.sd.us.
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